King Charles III Rattled as Charles Spencer Claims He Dismissed Diana

**The late Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, has stirred royal circles with his tell‑all book *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*, released on Tuesday, September 22. , the 77‑year‑old King Charles III is “devastated” by the revelations.

The memoir details Spencer’s relationship with his sister and contains allegations that have unsettled those close to the monarch.**

**Spencer’s book alleges that, days after Diana’s fatal car crash in Paris in 1997, Charles “sounded giddily elated” and predicted that Diana would soon be forgotten. The royal family’s reaction has been described as “sadness, anger and hurt,” with many insiders saying the king’s grief was deeper than publicly displayed.**

**In a rare response, Buckingham Palace issued a statement earlier this month: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle,

His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and color memory in ways others do not recognize even many years after such a loss.” Spencer has publicly condemned the palace’s stance and defended the truthfulness of his account.**

## Background and Context

Spencer, 62, published *Swan Song* on September 22, chronicling his sibling dynamic with Princess Diana before her death at age 36. The memoir portrays a contentious relationship between the two, including the claim that Charles expressed a casual dismissal of Diana’s legacy shortly after the crash.

These allegations contrast sharply with what many say about the king’s private mourning, which reportedly led to years of depression and intense personal grief.

The book’s release follows a long period of speculation about royal family dynamics. Diana’s death in 1997 left a profound impact on the monarchy, and her state funeral was attended by global dignitaries.

Spencer’s narrative, however, suggests a more strained bond between the late princess and her brother‑in‑law, a depiction that has provoked strong reactions from those who were close to the royal family.

## Reactions Inside the Palace

An insider told us that “everyone inside the palace is completely beside themselves that Diana’s brother would publish such lies.” The source added that “the king was devastated” and “doesn’t recognize the person Charles Spencer is portraying.” The memoir’s claims are said to be “not in line with what truly happened” and “in [the monarch’s] character,” .

The palace’s statement, issued days before the book’s publication, acknowledged that “fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and color memory” even many years after such a loss.

The source described this as a “rare statement addressing its contents.” Spencer responded to the statement by saying, “Well, it’s not every day you’re gaslit by a king, but I was really upset with that because I thought it was very, not only condescending, but not straight,” in an interview for Good Morning America on Sunday, September 20.

He continued that he stood by what was written in his book.

## Palace Response and Future Steps

Buckingham Palace’s statement was intended to clarify the royal stance while adhering to a principle of not commenting on books. “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle…” the spokesperson said, adding that the king’s pain had long influenced his judgments.

The palace’s remarks have been met with disappointment from Spencer, who accused the statement of being “condescending” and “not straight.”

, those close to the king “took the revelations really hard and have felt powerless.” The source noted that “only those closest to him know how hard of a time that period was.” As a result, there appears to be little recourse for the palace to address the claims beyond maintaining its public neutrality.

The memoir’s publication has left many inside the royal household grappling with conflicting narratives about Princess Diana’s legacy and her brother‑in‑law’s portrayal of him.

**Spencer’s *Swan Song* has reopened a painful chapter of royal history, revealing that even decades after a public tragedy, private grief can still shape perception—sometimes in ways that clash with official accounts.**